It was another step in the right direction as the Management of Federal University Lokoja on Wednesday, August 4, 2021 took the bull by the horns with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi leading a team of his finest Principal and Management Staff to Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana Plant, the largest single cement factory in the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa, with a view to establishing a robust relationship that would be mutually beneficial to both organizations.

The Vice-Chancellor while marshalling some of the important areas of the collaboration intimated the Management of Dangote Cement Plc that the University Management was poised to taking its developmental strides to higher heights by partnering with Dangote Cement Plc.

Some of the intended areas of collaboration as highlighted by the Vice-Chancellor included making Obajana Plant as a training hub for the students’ practical, in view of the proposed Faculty of Engineering that would soon commence, as well as establishing a good business relationship that would boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the University.

The partnership would also involve bringing some of the seasoned Managers of Dangote Cement Plc to serve as Board Members in the Directorate of Entrepreneurship Studies, as the Vice-Chancellor looks towards implementing “No Skill, No Graduation” policy that would drive his Administration’s skill acquisition programmes for the students beginning from the next Academic Session.

In his response, the Senior General Manager of Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana Plant, Mr. John M. Gywon, who led other Team of Managers during the meeting, spoke passionately about his company’s readiness to collaborate with Federal University Lokoja that would engender all-round development to both parties.

Mr. Gywon also stated that their Managers were very proud of FUL products who were working with them either as staff or as students on Industrial Training (IT/SIWES), commending the University for producing such high quality students that can compete favourably in any environment. In addition, he urged the University Management to come up with a detailed proposal for onward transmission to their Corporate Headquaters.

The meeting which was facilitated and coordinated by the Directorate of Entrepreneurship Studies headed by Professor Friday Ogbe, as part of his efforts to drive the mandate and vision of the current Administration, was attended by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor M. S. Audu; Registrar, Mr. Usman Suleman Obansa; Bursar, Mr. Sule John Shilo and the University Librarian, Dr. (Mrs) Sarah Dauda Yani.  

Others were the Dean, Students’ Affairs Division, Dr. Yusuf M. Abdullahi, Director of Advancement and Linkages, Professor Sunday E. Atawodi, SSA to the Vice-Chancellor, Mr. Emmanuel Dada Obafemi, and the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Daniel Nwankwo, amongst others.